The BEST Way to Learn a Foreign Language
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Now THIS is how you learn a foreign language:
1. Move to a foreign country
2. Rent an apartment in a local neighborhood
3. Try to cook with your new kitchen gadgets
“DESCONGELADO“? Uh, turns out that would be “thawed”
(vs. “congelados” – why “frozen” of course!)
“Palomitas de maiz“?? lesseee… “maiz”, uh, corn, oh… Popcorn!
Aves? – hmm… some sort of “bird” I believe – oh yeah, “poultry”!
And… Carne Molida? Well we all pretty much know “carne” is “beef”, but… “molida”???
Ah, by jove, I’ve got it! “ground beef” – who knew? 😉
Question is… how do YOU best learn a foreign language – desperate immersion? classes? private tutor? online lessons? movies/music?
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
Muy bien Dyanne!
If you kitchen does not quite teach you everything you need to know I can recommend Simon Bolivar Soanish School in el Centro. My husband and I attended for a week in 2011, it was super cheap for private lessons and a wonderful way to learn. Our maestra, Maricela, took us on walks around the city and to the museo to practice. A fab way to see Cuenca and learn at the same time.
Thanks for the recommendation Emma – I’m not yet sure if I’ll take Spanish classes or get a private tutor (my neighbor is bilingual and wants to exchange English/Spanish lessons). But yes, the Simon Bolivar school is just a few blocks from me and their course options look most interesting.
I’ve also been going to a language exchange a Fabiano’s pizza near me every Tuesday and Thursday 4:30 – 6pm. Many Ecuadorian students meet there w/ expats and we speak 45 min. in Spanish, and then 45 in English.
Unlike many of the expats here, I also try to speak Spanish with the locals every chance I get. At the bakery, the mercado, wherever. It really seems to help, and the locals love it.
I like ordering something random on a restaurant menu. If I like it, I make a note of the name, and what it turned out to be. If I don’t like it I also write it down to make sure I never order it again! My students think I’m fluent in Vietnamese because after 3 years I can read the menu perfectly! Can’t introduce myself, but I can order food! You gotta know what’s important to you, right?
Brilliant Aimee. I only wish I’d been that diligent about noting what was eating when I first arrived in Vietnam nearly 3 years ago.
While I ADORE the uniquely eclectic cuisine of Vietnam (those scrumptious “Vietnamese Tacos” with the rice paper rounds and quail eggs cooked on hibachis along the curb, etc.) for some reason, I never managed to remember the names of the various dishes (though I do fondly remember the smokey flavored fried crickets!)
And yes, yes indeed – one surely must keep one’s language priorities straight! 😉
Our microwave in Beijing has a mix of English words and Chinese characters on it. I’d love to know what the ‘baby Marvin’ button does….!
Woa! Now THAT’S a challenge in linguistic translation Joella – do let us know if you ever figure it out!.
¡Su cocina es su escuela!
En efecto, Pablo – es verdad! 😉